An Innisfil family will have to wade through a planning process before the town will consider supporting the restart of their commercial water-taking business.
In May, Sebastian Corbo came to council seeking the support from the town for his family’s application to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) for a permit to take water for groundwater withdrawals at their property on the 10th Sideroad.
Even if councillors wanted to give Corbo Springwater what the family requested, the town’s official plan (OP) regulations wouldn’t allow them to do so at this point.
“The town’s (OP) policies have established a process for the consideration and potential approval of water taking for as a commercial use,” the staff report on the matter stated. “For the town to provide a municipal support letter for the application to the MECP as requested, consideration of planning applications under the town’s (OP) are first required from the applicant.”
The property, 7306 10 Sideroad, has been in the Corbo family for decades, and previously was home to a commercial water-taking operation. The previously issued permit allowing operations lapsed in 2010 and the Corbos were told they would have to begin the process anew in order to restart their business.
In the interim, the OP has been updated to satisfy changes to the Provincial Policy Statement and the Source Water Protection Act.
Specifically, Section 15.6 requires “applications for (OP) amendment and zoning bylaw amendment to be considered by the Town for any commercial water takings greater than 50,000 litres per day.” The regulation was put in place, the staff report stated, “to ensure that there will not be any negative impacts on water quantity and quality as a result of the proposed commercial water taking.”
Site plan approval would also be required, once other applications are considered.
Section 15.6.1 deals more with oversight, recognizing approval of any application for commercial water taking rests with MECP. However, it also outlines that “no permit of license for water taking shall be issued by the appropriate authority until an amendment to the town’s (OP) and zoning bylaw has been adopted by council and approved by the County of Simcoe.”
Corbo presented another delegation to council at the start of the June 5 meeting, reiterating his request for support, and showing how the studies done on the property, now and when it was previously in operation, would satisfy the requirements being outlined in the OP.
Joined by his sister, Rose, the Corbos told council they have the support of their immediate neighbours and that recent testing showed no negative impact on the quality of the surrounding wells after prolonged use.
They also stated there were no plans for the construction of a bottling facility on the property. All water sourced from the property would be moved off-site for commercial use.
Ultimately, however, they have not completed the necessary planning process outlined by the OP.
“I understand you have all your hydrological studies and everything in place, but what we’re dealing with is a zoning bylaw amendment you require to take that water from your operation,” said Coun. Fred Drodge. “I do think you have given a very detailed study of your business plan and what you have there. I just support the staff recommendation that you have to get the proper zoning and bylaw amendments in place.”
Before the item was pulled for discussion, Coun. Kevin Eisses wondered if the Corbos had a full understanding of the requirements they needed to fulfill before council could consider their request for support in applying to the MECP. Planning and growth director Andria Leigh told councillors staff would work with the Corbos to give them more details on the process.
She also confirmed that the operation could not be grandfathered. While water had been taken from the site previously, no permit was issued during the time when the relevant amendments to the OP were passed in 2014.
The property is currently designated primarily as Key Natural Heritage Features and Key Heritage Features in the OP — with a small section designated as Agricultural — and zoned Environmental Protection. Portions of the property also fall under the South Georgian Bay Lake Simcoe Source Water Protection Plan as a significant groundwater recharge area.
